By Ruchika Verma | Assistant Manager- Project Nanhi Kali
Project Nanhi Kali helps educate underprivileged girl children from socially and economically marginalized families living in urban, rural and tribal parts of India. This is a national sponsorship program which provides academic and material support to disadvantaged girls so that they can complete their education with dignity. It is jointly managed by K. C. Mahindra Education Trust and Naandi Foundation. The Project has now expanded its area of operations in 10 states covering over 1,43,000 Nanhi Kalis across India.
Project Nanhi Kali provides 360-degree support to girls, referred to as Nanhi Kalis, studying in government schools from Grade 1 to 10. The intervention comprises of the following elements:
Free remedial classes provided at Nanhi Kali Academic Support Centres which are set up within the government school premises. At these Academic Support Centres (ASC), which operate for 1.5-2 hours every school day, trained tutors engage the girls in concept based learning. The tutors, referred to as Community Associates (CA), are selected from the local community with the intention that they will act as friends and mentors to the girls, while encouraging community interest and proactive action for quality education.
The project adopts a unique pedagogy called the Cooperative Reflective Approach which is a concept based, interactive group approach to learning. The value of cooperative learning lies in the way group dynamics are created amongst the Nanhi Kalis in the Academic Support Centres. The girls are encouraged to listen to one another, ask questions, clarify issues and express their point of view on the concepts under discussion. The approach recognises learning as a continuous process that is distinct for each child and focuses on learning rather than teaching.
The Yellow Tablet Revolution, which has recently been launched in the project, comprises of the provision of digital tablets with pre-loaded audio-visual educational content to Nanhi Kalis in secondary school (Grade 6-10). The audio-visual lessons enable better comprehension and recall. Each concept taught is followed by an assessment, and only after the concept is mastered does the next concept unlock. Every girl can log in individually and learn at her own unique pace.
At the primary school level (Grade 1-5), tablets are used by the Community Associates to efficiently track attendance and academic performance of the Nanhi Kalis.
A school supplies kit is provided to every girl annually, thereby allowing her to attend school with dignity. This kit consists of uniforms, personal clothing, notebooks, stationery, a school bag, a raincoat/pullover and feminine hygiene material.
Regular assessments and evaluation of the girls’ learning levels is an integral part of the project. 3 assessments are conducted for each Nanhi Kali, every academic year. The daily attendance of the Nanhi Kalis is also tracked by the Community Associates; if a Nanhi Kali remains absent for more than 3 days, the Community Associate visits the home of the girl to check the reason for her absenteeism.
The Nanhi Kali team works extensively with parents and communities to sensitize them to become collective guardians of the girls. Community Based Organisations are formed across project locations. These organizations provide for a strong platform for awareness building and participation of important stakeholders in the community. Additionally, several sensitization and engagement activities are organised with the objective to change negative mind-sets and attitudes towards the girl child.
Gurgaon
Kit distribution
The kits were distributed to the Nanhi Kalis in a colourful community event in the various schools and communities in Gurgaon in the month of August 2018. The kits were ceremoniously handed to the Nanhi Kalis in the presence of their parents, school teachers, headmasters, village and community dignitaries, Sarpanch, Gram Pradhan (Head of the village), etc. The kit distribution events also had cultural activities performed by the Nanhi Kalis such as welcome songs, poem recitation, group dances, skits on girl education and speeches by Head master/mistress, parents, Programme Officer
Monthly Evaluation
The Monthly Evaluation (ME) was conducted from 20th August to 23rd August for all the Primary school Nanhi Kalis in Gurgaon. It was the first Monthy Evaluation of the academic year.
Independence Day
Independence Day was celebrated in all the ASCs of Gurgaon very festively.
Activities such as drawing competitions, group dances and patriotic songs sung by the Nanhi Kalis were carried out in the ASCs.
Independence Day
Independence Day was celebrated in all the ASCs of Gurgaon very festively.
Activities such as drawing competitions, group dances and patriotic songs sung by the Nanhi Kalis were carried out in the ASCs.
Noida
Kit distribution
Kit distribution took place in the month of August 2018 in Noida in various schools and communities. The kits were distributed in the presence of school staff and parents and the village dignitaries. Cultural programmes such as group dance, group songs, recitation and skit were also performed in many of the celebrations.
Monthly Evaluation
The Monthly Evaluation (ME) was conducted from 27th to 29th August at Noida for all the primary Nanhi Kalis. Since it was the first ME for this academic year, all the Nanhi Kalis and Community Associates (CA) were excited and nervous at the same time.
Independence Day
All the Nanhi Kalis celebrated Independence Day in their respective schools in Noida. Flag hoisting ceremony followed by dance and patriotic songs refreshed patriotism of all the Nanhi Kalis and the Nanhi Kali team and they vowed to achieve quality education through this programme and getting freedom from all barriers and hindrances in the way.
Kolkata
Monthly Evaluation
The monthly evaluation was conducted on 13th and 14th August 2018 in all the ASCs in Kolkata where all the Primary Nanhi Kalis had participated.
Independence Day
Independence Day was celebrated with lots of patriotic fervour in all the ASCs in Kolkata. Not only the Nanhi Kalis performed, the CAs and the Nanhi Kali Coordinators (NKC) performed on cultural activities too such as patriotic songs, recitations, dances and yoga.
Mumbai
Independence Day Celebrations
Independence Day was celebrated in Mumbai with all the Nanhi Kalis in their ASCs. There were various competitions organised such as Dance, speech, drawing and greeting card making competitions at the ASC level. The Nanhi Kalis enjoyed the activities organised thoroughly.
Session on ‘Good touch and Bad touch’ organised
The Nanhi Kali team organised a Session on ‘Good touch and Bad touch’ which was conducted by the Police Department, N.M. Joshi Police Station on 16th August 2018. The session was organised at N.M. Joshi School in Worli, where 3 Inspectors conducted the session. They also showed how to protect yourself using self-defence and how to prevent girl trafficking and abuse. The Nanhi Kalis found the session very enlightening.
Monthly Evaluations
The Monthly Evaluations for all the Primary Nanhi Kalis were conducted on 16th and 17th August in Mumbai. While language was evaluated on the 1st day, the second day was for Maths.
NKC and CA Review Meeting
From 29th to 31st August, review meetings were organised for the CAs and the NKCs zone-wise in Mumbai. The discussions were on CA reasonability, Nanhi Kali attendances in Tab, grouping of the Nanhi Kalis, Data Syncing, Timeline, special intervention for Classes IX and X, etc.
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
